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Daily Bites: Overcoming Obstacles

The Daily Bites are short (1-2 pg) mini-lessons with specific ideas and suggestions for weight loss and other diet issues. Sent 2 or 3 times a week via e-mail. I weave in suggestions using EFT and NLP techniques which I teach here and use in my private practice. To learn EFT download the free EFT for Weight Loss packet, and sign up to get The Daily Bites: EFT for Weight Loss delivered to your in-box.

Ah, bumps in the road. We all have them, but have you noticed how when you decide to make a change, things suddenly start to go all wrong? Your spouse or children may suddenly be impatient or demanding, your spouse may suddenly be unreasonable (oh, right, that never happens), work is piling up and it just seems like the whole world is crashing around you.

Bumps, obstacles, hassles: that's just life! Things are going wrong and needing to be fixed fairly regularly yet they don't become hopeless. You don't throw up your hands in despair when you get a flat tire; you get it fixed one way or another. When you're trying to make a change in your routine though, suddenly these bumps become so much more noticeable.

That's your brain playing tricks. It wants you to knock off this nonsense about making a change. It wants you to just go back to the way you were, when everything was no nice and easy. That's why there's such a strong tendency to want to put it off, "I'll do it tomorrow," or "I'll start on Monday," but that Monday never comes. Or, if it does you last three days, then say, "Oh, no! I've blown it. I'll never take off this weight. I'll start again on Monday."

Be prepared because this happens to us all. If you're making an effort to get more work done, the phone starts ringing, if you want to make your dollars stretch a little farther, you suddenly need new tires and the water heater breaks. If it's not one thing, it's another. Be prepared.

The Day I Decided to Stop Smoking

"Don't be sidetracked by obstacles; expect them! Then you can use EFT to find your way over, around, under or even straight through them."

Many years ago I finally decided to quit smoking. The decision was made. That first day everything went wrong. At a restaurant the waitress took forever to even come to the table and take our order, then the food took even longer to arrive. I couldn't smoke while I waited, so time ticked by so slowly I could count the seconds.

I didn't know what to do with my hands. I kept wanting to reach in my purse, but had to deny the impulse. Later at work it was awful: people were upset, orders weren't done, everything was coming apart at the seams, and I had to have picked that day to quit! In the movie Airplane Lloyd Bridges' character kept popping up when it looked most hopeless, "Looks like I picked a lousy day to quit ..." No matter what day you choose, it will seem as if it's a lousy day to quit. But, I endured. The challenge that day was to get through one day. "I will get through this today and tomorrow I can decide if I want to do it again."

Even though it may feel hopeless, all is not lost. This is only temporary and if you get through the first rough spots, you're going to make it. The sense of accomplishment the first time you stand fast, say no, and push yourself away from your temptation, is so powerful. The next day you'll feel stronger, more sure of yourself, knowing you did it once you can do it again. Build on these small wins until one day you're looking back at your old behavior and thinking, "That wasn't so difficult."

This scene plays out whether you want to lose weight, get more fit , run farther, jump higher, or grow a beard (man it's itchy at first). You can get through the first few uncomfortable moments. You may still wish you had your old way of dealing with life's little stresses, like food, drink, smoke, whatever. But today, just for today you're going to get through it by yourself. Tens of thousands of people every day get through life without too much food and so can you.

Today make a decision right now about how you will handle yourself the rest of this day (or this hour), and then stick to it. This is basic training and there is no failure. You will do as you've decided because you've decided that is what you want to do. Tomorrow, decided again. Everyday make as many different, separate decisions as necessary, but keep deciding to succeed and you will succeed. Failures and lapses are meaningless. When they happen tell yourself, "Big deal," and then go right back to deciding for the next moment.

How EFT Help Make Change Easier

Indecision: When you want to make a change but you are afraid to try because you might fail.

"Even though I'm not sure I want to change, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though the last time I tried it didn't work, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I know I won't follow through, I deeply and completely accept myself."

When Everything is Going Wrong:

"Even though I don't think I can make it, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though nothing is going right, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I just want to ... , I deeply and completely accept myself."

Knowing the Right Words for EFT

In the Daily Bites I make suggestions, but it is up to you to say what you mean. This is necessary since I cannot know what you specifically need, that's only possible in one-on-one weight loss coaching work, or in EFT for weight loss groups where we can all work together on our personal issues.

If you want more in-depth work to get to your core issues, use this form to send me a quick note, or call me to discuss your options. It could be only one or two primary issues are blocking your path to permanent weight loss, and once those are cleared, you are able to make any change you've been wanting.